Is it possible to add legroom in the 5?

[wanta5]

I hope this is the right place to post...

My husband finally agreed that the time has come to replace my 99 protege since we're expecting our first child this summer. We stopped by the dealership and testdrove a 5 today. I thought it was just as awesome as it looks, he likes it but would really like another couple inches of legroom in the driver's seat (he's 6'3", I'm 5'7" so I fit in everything). Is is possible to do this? He's fairly handy so DIY would be ok but we're willing to pay as well.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Wytchdctr]

I am 6'2" and have plenty of room if... I push the seat all the way back and drop it down as far as it will go via the pump handle on the side. I was worried I wouldn't fit during my test drive until I found that thing. My wife is 5'2" so she has to do the opposite. Raise it all the way up with the seat full forward.

You may be able to tinker with the seat rails, but I have no idea how that would affect the air bags. Front, side, and side curtain.

 

[coolmazda5]

Not really too much help I'm afraid, but this was discussed some time ago:

http://www.mazdav.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123665446

 

[jandree22]

My $.02 on the matter, I'm 6'1" and completely comfy in my 5, however I'm also not the type that enjoys sitting a mile away from my steering wheel like some others I know. If your husband's okay with it, perhaps reclining the seat a notch or two would also help in "stretching" out his body? Problem is it's a Japanese car and naturally designed for Japanese people who are generally smaller than us goliath Americans (lol2)

I would be leery of DIY moving the seat back further, for the simple fact of safety in an accident... not only integrity of holding the seat in place bolted to the frame where it wasn't engineered to be bolted, and Wytchdctr raises a good point about the airbag positions, certainly a concern in itself.

I would be willing to bet, however, that even if he was slightly uncomfy with it upfront, over time he'd probably get used to it. A problem I initially had was my wide feet nearly not fitting between the brake pedal and the center console to press the gas pedal... my shoes always rubbed. Well, this was one of those things where it never happens anymore... I doubt my feet shrunk, so that means I just adjusted without thinking about it.

Hopefully this helps, bottom line, you gotta get something you're gonna feel comfy driving in, but if it's one of those on-the-fence borderline things, I'd say go for it, good luck!

 

[jeebusm3]

6'3 here. I fit fine. Seat is one click from all the way back and set as low as it goes.

 

[wanta5]

Thanks everyone! I figured it was extremely unlikely that it could safely be modified but y'all would know if it was possible. I guess I should have mentioned he's gotten used to his Outback (which we're keeping, it's a MT which I can't drive) and he has crappy knees. We talked it over today, and we're going to test drive a few other cars (Rondo & Odyssey, maybe a few others) just for completeness, but I can get the 5 if I want since I'll be driving it 90%+ of the time and it's all short haul driving anyway. So hopefully I'll be bringing one home in the next couple of weeks! So excited - my protege has been very good to me but nothing like a new car!

 

[coolmazda5]

^^ That's it, don't look further, it is a good excuse for not letting him drive it . That is what my wife did with hers for 2+ years so I had to end up buying one for myself (who got the Aux Input now huh?)

 

[daan]

In "Miata World" lots of taller (6+ footers) fit better in those by removing some of the foam from the seat cushions. You may be able to do that, just take a little off at a time, it would suck to take too much out and have the seat too short. When I did the "foam-ectomy" to my Miata, I put in seat heaters at the same time since the covers were off anyway.
http://www.heatmyseats.com/?gclid=CIqaopjAv5ICFQx7PAoduwaULA

 

[AO928]

In the Porsche world, some seats can be set back a bit further on the rails. I believe there are even some rail extensions available - not sure if there is anything available for the 5. But it should not affect seatblets nor airbags on the driver's side. On the passenger side there is a pressure sensor that could be affected by changing the seat which could in turn affect deployment of the passenger front airbag.

 

[barryWest]

Hi,
I am 6'3" and had the exact same concern when I first sat in a 5 at the dealership. Our other car is an 89 volvo wagon, and that thing is so big that an NBA player would probably be comfy in the driver's seat, so it was a big change taking the 5 out for a test drive.
However, I just want to concur with the posts above that adjusting the seat works. I've got mine pushed all the way back, AND all the way down via the little pump handle thingy, AND I've got the seat inclined one notch back. If I do all three, its no problem.
As for my 3 year old kicking my seat from her car seat, that's another issue.....